Hydrangea plant named ‘Hokomabebos’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  plant named ‘Hokomabebos’ that is characterized by its large mophead inflorescences, its inflorescences with sterile sepals that are picotee (bicolor) with white centers and pink-red edges, its dark colored leaves, and its suitability for growing in containers.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘Hokomabebos’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeder's RightsApplication No. 21-10545 filed on May 26, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f),the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Hokomabebos’. ‘Hokomabebos’ represents a new mophead typeHydrangea, a deciduous shrub grown for use as a landscape plant.

‘Hokomabebos’ was derived from an ongoing breeding program conducted bythe Inventors in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objectives of thebreeding program are to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea macrophyllawith bicolor and light colored inflorescences (almost white flowers witha red edge), and dark foliage colors.

The Inventor made a controlled cross in March of 2011 in Boskoop, TheNetherlands between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants from theirbreeding program; female parent (ref. code 07-036-01) and male parent(ref. code 07-120-09). ‘Hokomabebos’ was selected in May of 2013 as asingle unique plant amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished under thedirection of the Inventors by stem cuttings in July of 2013 in Boskoop,The Netherlands. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determinedthat the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Hokomabebos’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea.

-   -   1. ‘Hokomabebos’ exhibits large mophead inflorescences.    -   2. ‘Hokomabebos’ exhibits inflorescences with sterile sepals        that are picotee (bicolor) with white centers and pink-red        edges.    -   3. ‘Hokomabebos’ exhibits dark colored leaves.    -   4. ‘Hokomabebos’ exhibits suitability for growing in containers.

The female parent of ‘Hokomabebos’ differs from ‘Hokomabebos’ in havingleaves that are greener in color and inflorescences with sterile sepalsthat are all pink in color and not picotee. The male parent of‘Hokomabebos’ differs from ‘Hokomabebos’ in having leaves that are lessdark in color and inflorescences with sterile sepals that are near whitewith a thin pink edge in color. ‘Hokomabebos’ can be most closelycompared to the Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars ‘Hortfire’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 29,058) and ‘Hortmaflam’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,716). Both‘Hortfire’ and ‘Hortmaflam’ are similar to ‘Hokomabebos’ in having darkcolor leaves and inflorescences with sterile sepals that are picotee.‘Hortfire’ differs from ‘Hokomabebos’ in having inflorescences withsterile sepal that are less picotee and margins that are curly anddented, and leaves that are lighter in color. ‘Hortmaflam’ differs from‘Hokomabebos’ in having leaves that are lighter in color andinflorescences with sterile sepals that are white in color with and thindark pink and dented margins.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating tosales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than oneyear prior to the effective filing date of this application. Anyinformation about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims aprior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/orsales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to theeffective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited towebsite listings by Wayside Gardens, Blooming Easy Plants, Jackson andPerkins, Prides Corner, Savvy Gardening, Van Zyverden, Target, HSN, QVC,Walmart, Home Depot, Suburban Lawn and Garden, Mackeys Grow, PlantsNouveau, Van Belle Nurseries, and Greenhouse Magazine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrates the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea. The photographs weretaken of a two-year-old plant as grown outdoors in a 1-gallon containerin Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the plant habit of‘Hokomabebos’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of an inflorescence of‘Hokomabebos’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describethe colors of the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of 15-month-old plants of‘Hokomabebos’ as grown outdoors in 1-gallon containers in Abbotsford,British Columbia, Canada. The plants were grown under non-blueingconditions and blueing conditions have not been used. The colordetermination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England, except where general color termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—At least 2 months in mid-summer in The            Netherlands.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, mophead type Hydrangea.        -   Plant habit.—Compact, suitable for container growing.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 27 cm in height and 45 cm            in spread as grown in a 1-gallon container, reaches 100 cm            in height and width as grown as a 3-year-old plant in the            landscape.        -   Hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 9.        -   Diseases and pests.—No resistance or susceptibility to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous, NN155B in color.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Root development.—Time required for root initiation is 6            weeks, time required to produce a young plant from rooted            cutting is 18 weeks.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—Young and mature; 144A in color, mature bark;            color is a blend of 199A and N200A.        -   Stem size.—Main branches; average of 9 cm in length, 5 mm in            diameter, lateral branches; average of 5.5 cm in length, 4            mm in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Younger and mature stems; glabrous and            slightly glossy, lenticellate, lenticles; very sparse 5 per            cm², an average of 1 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width, 200C            in color, old growth at base; bark-like, mostly smooth and            can be slightly exfoliating.        -   Internode length.—Average of 4 cm.        -   Branching.—Average of 4 main branches, average of 4 to 6            lateral branches per main branch.        -   Stipules.—Persistent, 2 opposite at base of petioles,            stipule bud; is 2 mm in length, 1 mm in width, 187A in            color, oblong in shape, acute apex, glossy and glabrous            surface.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptical.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—Apiculate.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper and lower surface; 145A and            145B.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 10.5 cm in length and 6 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper and lower surface slightly glossy.        -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 200A, slightly            flushed with 144A, mature upper surface 144A, flushed with            200A, margins 200A, mature lower surface 147B.        -   Petioles.—An average of 1 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter,            both surfaces slightly glossy and 144A in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal panicle, full rounded mophead            in form, comprised of single sterile flowers and            inconspicuous fertile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent at least 2 months            in color.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 15 cm in height, 23 cm in            diameter.        -   Flower number.—Average of 85 sterile flowers and 15 fertile            flowers per panicle.        -   Flower fragrance.—Very faint, floral rose fragrance.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright to outward.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 5 cm in            diameter, 3 cm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 1 cm            in diameter and 5 mm in depth.        -   Flower type.—Rotate.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; average of 3 mm in length and            diameter, rounded, flattened in shape, color; base NN155C,            center 68A, top and margins 79A, fertile flowers; average of            3 mm in length and diameter, rounded in shape, color; base            NN155C and flushed with 145A, center 68A, top and margins            79A.        -   Peduncles.—Moderately strong, average of 3 cm in length and            3 mm in width, color; 144A, with random blotches of 187A,            surface is slightly glossy to matte, smooth.        -   Pedicels.—Moderately strong, average of 2 cm in length and 2            mm in width, color; young pedicels 142B, occasionally            speckled with 185A in color, mature pedicels 159A in color,            occasionally speckled with 187C in color, surface is matte            and moderately covered with very fine woolly hairs that            match surface color.        -   Petals.—Sterile flowers; 5, rotate, 3 mm in length, 2 mm in            diameter, linear in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire            margins, cup-shaped, glabrous and matte surface, young and            mature color upper and lower surface N155C, tip flushed with            71A, fertile flowers; 5, rotate, 5 mm in length, 3 mm in            diameter, linear in shape, acute apex, cuneate base, entire            margins, cup-shaped, glabrous and matte surface, young and            mature color upper and lower surface N155C, tip and margins            flushed with 71B.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; showy, 4, deltoid to reniform in            shape, moderately to strongly overlapping, rotate in            arrangement, entire margins moderately undulate, apex is            very slightly retuse to bluntly pointed with 2 points,            cuneate base, average of 3.5 cm in length and 5 cm in width,            upper and lower surface glabrous and satiny, color: when            opening upper and lower surface; base 1C, veins 1C and 157A,            centers 185A, margins 187A, when fully open upper surface;            base, 62A and NN155C, veins NN155C, outside edges 63A,            margins 61A, when fully open lower surface; base, 62A, veins            N155B and flushed with 76C, outside edges 58D, margins very            slightly flushed with N79B, both surfaces fading to a blend            of N79A and N79C at the outside edges and margins, base 69A,            center 163B to 163C, fertile flowers; 5 to 6, rotate in            arrangement, ovate to broadly ovate in shape, entire to very            slightly serrate margins, acute apex, cuneate base, average            of 6 mm in length and 3 mm in width, both surfaces are            glabrous, color; young upper and lower surface 145A, mature            upper and lower surface 158B, flushed with 157A, 145A and            75D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Sterile flowers; average of 7, anther is broad            reniform in shape, 0.5 mm in diameter and 8D in color,            filament is 3 mm in length and NN155C in color, pollen is            low in quantity, fertile flowers; average of 7, anther is            broad reniform in shape, 0.7 mm in length and 8D, filament            is 4 mm in length and NN155C in color, pollen is low in            quantity and too small amount for color reading.        -   Pistils.—Sterile flowers; average of 3, an average of 2 mm            in length, stigma is club-shaped, 1 mm in diameter and            NN155C in color, style is NN155C in color, ovary is 8D in            color and inferior, fertile flowers; average of 3, an            average of 2 mm in length, stigma is clavate in shape and            NN155C in color, style is NN155C in color, ovary is 16D in            color and inferior.        -   Fruit and seed.—Not observed to date.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Hokomabebos’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.